Suit-case.



Patented Dec. 31,1912.

M. BRANDON.

SUIT CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUGA, 1910.

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH C0.. WASHING'roN, n. cY

MARTIN`BRANDON, 0F EAU' CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

SUIT-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application led August 4, 1910. Serial No. 575,594.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN BRANDON, a citizen of Norway, residing at Eau Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Suit-Case, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in suit cases, and the object of the invention is to provide a light and inexpensive suit case which will be strong and durable, and in which the lid may be closed without liability of binding upon the body portion.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of such cases whereby the hinges will be prevented from pulling out and a suit case will be provided which will retain its shape.

These stated objects, and such other incidental objects as will hereinafter appear, are attained in the use of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, an'd the invention consists in certain novel features of the same which will be hereinafter first fully described and then subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,-Figure l is a view partly in end elevation and partly in transverse section of a suit case having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a part of the frame. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a portion of the back or bottom of the case in plan view, and a portion of the sides in section.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a frame of spring steel consisting of a plurality of substantially U-shaped members l over which is shaped a body 2 of straw board or similar light and inexpensive material. The ends of these U-shaped members l are rigidly secured by rivets or similar devices to a rectangular member 3 to which the body 2 is also secured, and this member 3 will extend entirely around the opening of the body and will project slightly above the body, the projecting portion being turned inward, as shown at 4, to present a beveled lip or flange. The body 2 will be covered with leather or other material 5, and the exposed portion of the frame 3 will be covered with a thin fabric 6 colored to correspond with the outside covering 5 so as to impart a neat finish to the suit case. The coverings will be secured to the body and the metallic frame by some adhesive so that a smooth Contact may be attained throughout the parts and unsightly wrinkles prevented. The lid or cover 7 is likewise constructed of a spring steel rectangular frame 8 of a size and shape to t over and against the lip 4, and a body 9 of similar characteristics to the body 2, and a covering 10 of the same material as the cover 5 will be secured over the frame 8 and the body 9, as will be readily understood. The several corners of the case will be reinforced by stays ll, and a suitable handle l2 will be provided upon the body in the usual manner. The lid is secured to the body at one side of the same by hinges 13, the leaves of which are riveted to the metallic frame 8 and to the member 3 of the metallic frame of the body, the rivets 14 passing through the several coverings, the leaves of the hinge, and the metallic frame, and the hinge leaves being arranged between the metallic frames and the adjacent portions of the body, as clearly shown.

It will be readily seen that I have produced a suit case which may be manufactured at a small cost and which will maintain its shape under all conditions, and as the lid, when closing, will swing against a beveled surface it will pass readily into its proper position relative to the body of the.

case without straining the hinges or exerting any lateral twisting force thereon. The beveled portion of the frame, furthermore, will present an inwardly extending lip which will prevent the articles of clothing placed in the case, being caught between the case and the lid and thereby torn or otherwise injured. The hinges are secured to both the body and the lid in such manner that they will not readily pull out, inasmuch as a -metallic frame is provided at the inner side of the hinges against which the pulling strain of the securing rivets will be exerted. Consequently, the latch will lit properly upon `the body, even after long continued use.

It will be noted that the U-shaped members or yokes l are not secured to the bottom or the sides o-f the body, and their only points of attachment are at the ends, at which points they are secured by rivets to the inside of the frame 3, said rive-ts passing through the ends of the yokes and the frame and the body. By reason of this, when the body is expanded, as when the case is filled, 'the U-shaped members or yokes will expand with the body and follow the same in its expansion and subsequent contraction when the case is relieved of its contents.

The rigid connection of the ends of the U-shaped yoke-s or members to the frame 3 imparts the requisite stiffness to the ends of said yolres or members. It necessarily follows that there is a joint coaction between the U-shaped members or yokes l, and the rectangular frame or member 3. IVhile each part is resilient, the spring ofthe yoles or members is in one direction, while the spring of the rectangular frame or member is in a diHerent direction. As a result, the uniting of these two parts makes a body which will stand the hard usage to which a suit case is subjected, without collapsing or detriment to its stability.

Thile I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to. be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is I. A suit case formed of a body, a series of spaced`Ushaped yolres of flat spring steel laid flat against and conforming to the sides and bottoni of t-he body, a rectangular frame of fiat spring steel arranged flat against the inside of the body around the marginal edge thereof, said frame having its outer edge bent inwardly at an angle and projecting beyond the edge of the body, rivets passed through the said frame and body at different points around the edge of the latter, the said yokes having their outer ends laid flat upon the inner face of the said frame and riveted thereto but free at all other points, whereby the said frame connects and stiffens the ends of the yoles without interfering with the resiliency of the body portions of said yokes.

2. A suit case having its cover provided with a spring steel rectangular frame, and a covering for the said frame, in combination with the body having a series of spaced U-shaped yoles of spring steel conforming to the sides and bottom of the body, a spring steel rectangular frame arranged on the inside of the body around the marginal edge thereof and having a portion of the frame bent inwardlyat an angle thereto, rivets passed through the said frame and body around the edge thereof, rivets connecting the outer ends of the yolres to the inside of the said frame of the body, and hinges having one leaf interposed between the frame of the cover and the covering, and the other leaf interposed between the frame of the body and the covering, and rivets passing through each frame, each leaf and the covering.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as mv own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. MARTIN BRANDON.

litnesses C. WV. CAMnnLL, H. M. WoLLUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Ermmssioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C. i 

